Life History and Population Ecology of Haddock in Southern Newfoundland Waters

Newfoundland is the northern extent of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) distribution in the western Atlantic. During the 1950s and 1960s, haddock supported a substantial fishery in southern Newfoundland (NAFO 3Ps) waters but abundance has been comparatively low over the last several decades and there has been no significant fishery in 3Ps since 1957.  The decline in the fishery for haddock coincided with a decline in scientific research on haddock with the last significant research on haddock in Newfoundland waters conducted in the 1950s-1960s. Other haddock stocks have shown major life history changes since the 1980s, including decreased size-at-age and age/length at maturity. The goal of the present study was to determine if similar changes in life history traits have occurred in 3Ps haddock, a stock that has been both at low abundance and has had limited fishing mortality for decades. This research is particularly relevant in view of potential increasing haddock abundance and tremendous commercial interest for haddock within the fishing industry. In order to meet these objectives, we examined data collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as part of annual research vessel surveys and more recently, data collected during offshore surveys conducted by the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research.